As reported yesterday, ABC has picked up Joss Whedon’s “S.H.I.E.L.D.” to the pilot stage as a part of his exclusive deal with Marvel Studios. It wasn’t long after this was reported that we all started to wonder where it would fit into the larger scheme of the Marvel films.

Variety now has some quotes from Whedon about the project who said not to call it a ‘spinoff.’ Whedon also said the series will be ‘autonomous’ to The Avengers sequel that he is writing and directing.

Whedon will write the pilot alongside his brother, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen (who previously worked with Whedon on “Dollhouse” and “Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”). All three will also join Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb as executive producers. It’s rumored that Whedon may also direct the pilot, but that nothing is confirmed at this time.

So how involved will Whedon be? Variety‘s Cynthia Littleton tweeted that “[Joss] reserves right to pepper in bits here and there. His bro Jed and Maurissa T. will be showrunners, he’ll just show up every now and then ‘and take credit for everything.'”